Enemies

RE3 doesn't skimp on the enemies. There is a veritable smorgasbord of baddies, and they're all out for your blood. Luckily, they behave in similar ways: they signal their attacks, and there is often a pause before they spring. This leaves Jill opportunities to dodge.

Different enemies are susceptible to different kinds of ammo. It takes a little repetition to determine which rounds work best on which creatures. One thing is universal: when you see blood, be it red or green or purple, you know that baddie is on the escalator to Hell.

The recently deceased are up and about, and coming to a neighborhood near you.

Yes, the latest victims of the T-Virus are loose in Raccoon City and hungry for human flesh. They're all over town and like to spring out at unsuspecting victims from behind doors and through fires. They usually announce their presence by groaning and wailing, and loudly shuffling their feet. Zombies are relatively slow and often can be avoided by running around them. They attack by grabbing on to you and biting. When you're above or below them, they can also spray green vomit at you. When in groups, they handicap themselves by schooling (like so many guppies). When this happens, it's easy to slaughter a gaggle of them with a close shotgun blast. Aim for the head. They attack with arms outstretched, and are easy to telegraph, so dodging is fairly easy. Zombies can be taken out with a couple of shotgun blasts (or one to the head), one magnum round, or a barrage of handgun hits.

That pesky T-Virus has even infested man's best friend. Zombie dogs are weaker than actual zombies (they can be put down with a close-range shotgun blast), butthey are quicker and more well-hidden. Dodge first, then when Mad Rover is in the air, pick him off with a couple shots to the bread basket. Once you discover their locations, zombie dogs are relatively harmless.

No more than glorified leeches, these bloodsuckers exist in the shallow water of sewers. Running around them makes the most sense. Worms are most easily dealt with by weaving while running. If they do latch on to you, they do very little damage.

Arachnophobes beware! The Spiders in RE3 are bigger than VW Beetles and hairier than George "The Animal" Steele. They lurk on walls and ceilings andattack with their front legs, or spit poison on you (often from above). Luckily, they are also fairly slow, easy to spot and can be managed with one or two shotgun hits. When they die, they drop young everywhere, and these little Spiders pester you until you leave the area. Baby spiders can be killed with one hit, but it's easier to simply run away. Leaving the room makes them disappear for good.

These grotesque beings are close cousins. Both look as if they've been thrown together with an amateur geneticist's hobby kit: barely spackled together with enough slime to exist. They appear interchangeably in the game. Both Deimos and Suckers scuttle around on floors and walls and attack with their many claws. If they get close enough, they'll try to suck your brain. Brain Suckers also possess the charming ability to spray poison. Since each emits a high-pitched shriek before coming at you, they are relatively easy to dodge. A couple of shotgun shells or a grenade round will stop their screaming for good.

These bad boys are first encountered in the Hospital, fairly late in the game. They stand upright and have sushi for heads. They're also equipped with foot-long talons that can and will decapitate those foolish enough to cross their path. If you do get in close quarters, Betas will jump and slash at you. They whittle down life quickly, so dodging is a must. To effectively avoid attack, hit dodge just as the Beta leaps. Magnum or Grenade rounds will send them packing with one hit. Otherwise, two Shotgun hits should do the trick. If possible, peg them from a safe area, before they charge.

Little more than evil, biped frogs, Hunter Gammas take after their Beta brethren. They get in close and slash at you with what amounts to razor flippers, then consume you with a killer gulp. Needless to say, the shorter the encounter the better. The same ammo and fighting style applies.

She's basically a big, muscle-bound slug with snaggleteeth. You only encounter the Grave Digger twice. The first time you run into this beast, you can dodge it; the second time it's a Cage Match to the death. Watch out for the springing, teeth-gnashing attacks. Kill it with Acid Rounds in the gullet.

The game's namesake looks like a gigantic, noseless, leather-clad cadaver with severe gingivitis, and he's mean as hell. He attacks by bashing with turkey-sized fists, or lifting you off the ground gasping for air. At a couple points during the game, the Nemesis travels with a rocket launcher. Later in the game, he attacks with tentacles and other nastiness. You have to be a seasoned dodger to successfully manage Nemesis' attacks. He's big, fast and as smart as can be expected from someone whose cranium is full of toxic goo. When he appears has a lot to do with what course you choose, but you can be certain he will appear at least seven times. The recipe for defeating this recurrent foe is maximum firepower, coupled with an ability to dodge. His attacks are swift and severe. Choose your battles wisely. Fleeing the Nemesis is often a better option than throwing down. Freeze or Flame Rounds from the grenade launcher or Magnum rounds are your best bet, but a shotgun will work if you can avoid him long enough.